The Manager of IT Department Operations is responsible for leading top-level administrative, financial, and operational activities within the Information Technology department. This role involves partnering with the CIO and IT leadership team to implement efficient operational processes, exercise sound financial planning, ensure adherence to budget, communicate complex concepts to top-level non-departmental staff, and assist with implementation of departmental strategic plans. The Manager will oversee budget preparation, executive reporting, audit coordination, and the continuous improvement of IT services. The position requires strong matrix leadership skills, excellent communication skills, and a contextual understanding of IT and business operations to drive effective collaboration and innovation within the department and across the organization. This is a hybrid position working at headquarters located in Farmington Hills, MI 1-2 days a week.

• Partners with the CIO and the IT Director team in fulfilling non-trivial and essential administrative and operational duties for the department, including quarterly board report preparation, monthly executive presentations, audit coordination, and internal and external departmental communications
• Manages the IT budget and acts as department liaison to Finance & Accounting
• Responsible for directing the preparation, review and consolidation of business plans and budgets for the IT organization, as well as IT invoice approvals and reporting of actuals.
• Establishes and implements operational improvements, and continuous improvement programs for the IT organization
• Regularly review IT costs and cost structures for IT services and products so that the financial implications of IT projects and activities are communicated to the proper IT and business executives
• Drives and facilitates effective collaboration and communications between the IT organization and the user and customer communities
• Develop and manage strategic vendor and partnership relationships and taking a stakeholder role in the maturation of certain vendor management processes
• Plays a critical role in IT workforce management, including the coordination of sourcing, training, and development of staff
• Stays current with developments in new market trends and innovations in technology and the leadership of enterprise IT
• Coordinate preparation of documentation for quarterly board reports, monthly executive presentations, departmental all-hands meetings, and other high-stakes internal and external communications
• Develop and execute departmental performance/KPI reporting
• Conduct information technology contract reviews

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in information technology, business administration or related field, or equivalent work experience
• 10 years in IT and business/industry
• 5 years of demonstrable, increasing operations/administrative responsibilities
• Past responsibility for administrative coordination of a multi-million-dollar operating budget
• Expertise in communications and administrative tooling; advanced-level proficiencies in Excel and PowerPoint are a must-have
• Expertise in budget planning, financial management and workforce management
• Broad knowledge of current and emerging technologies, technology directions, and strategic application to business needs
• Ability to improve operational efficiency, service delivery and information management across the IT organization
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technology solutions in business terms, establish rapport and persuade others
• Must be able to be onsite at headquarters 1-2 days a week in Farmington Hills, MI

The H.W. Kaufman Group is a global, forward-thinking specialty insurance organization that includes 15 companies with more than 2,000 professionals at 60 offices across the U.S., Canada, and UK. With an ever-broadening group of companies in our portfolio, there is simply not a more unique professional experience in the specialty insurance business than joining one of the H.W. Kaufman Group organizations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The H.W. Kaufman Group of companies is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other status or condition protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.